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Topic(s):

Call for proposal:

Funding scheme:

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Objective

We propose to use a combination of data from the ESA space missions GAIA and Herschel, alongside other satellite and European-led ground-based observations, to map the density distribution of star formation regions. This will allow us to identify the mechanisms that underlie both how massive stars themselves form, but more fundamentally, how their natal clusters evolve around them. Our work will underpin studies of how all galaxies evolve. The combination of the two ESA missions will allow us to study clusters and associations of stars when they are very young (much less than 1 Myr old), when the structures we see are a better match to the initial conditions. No one has attempted such a project before as the required datasets were not available. The novel data and complexity of the combined datasets require the development of new analysis and visualization tools. In particular we will statistically compare hybrid large scale N-body + SPH models with the combined 6-dimensional Gaia plus Herschel and gas kinematical data. Our goals therefore are structured to develop new techniques that we will initially test on simulations. We will follow this with tests on observational data of slightly older clusters (about 1Myr old). We will then apply the tested methodologies to the very youngest clusters. This will address our final goal of cracking the problem of how the most massive stars and clusters form.

Document the suite of N-body simulations, some of which will be based on the output from the gas-ISM simulations. This will also include those that study the effects of gas on the dynamics and the presence of ejected tight multiple systems.

Report on dissemination and communication activities, including updated publication lists, media appearances, links to outreach events etc. To be kept as a public web document. To be updated regularly by all nodes. The initial version at 3 months will detail the plans for the initial year.